Apparatus for use in solution and precipitation processes.



W. HUMMEL. APPARATUS `FON USE IN SOLUTION AND PRECIPITATION PROCESSES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV, 30,1908.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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Wnll'neses Am I - Wlhl 6,5565

W. HUMMEL.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN SOLUTION AND PRECIPITATION PROCESSES` APPLICATION FILED Nov. 30,1908.

Qlf Patented A101120, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MMM l' I WOLDEMARHOMMEL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO METALS' EXTRACTION COR- PORATION, LIMITED, O F LONDON, ENGLAND APPARATUS FOR USE IN SOLUTIQN-AD PRECIPITATION PROCESSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Appiicauon med November so', 190s. serial 110.465,285.

To all whom it may'concem:

Be it known that I, WQLDEMAR HOMMEL, citizen of Swiss Republic, residing at Lee,

London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Solution and Precipitation Processes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improve ments 1n apparatus for use in solution and precipitation rocesses, the objecty being .to provide suitabpe means for treating pulverurlent solid material with liquid, or liquid and gas-under pressure, or to precipitate solid matter from a solution by the actionot' a ,vacuum with or Without the addition of a solid precipitant and a feature of the invenlfion consists in the method of mixing solids and iiuids and of conveying the flowing mixfor solids and fluids at one end and .a taperture through the apparatus.

The apparatus is particularly suitable for use inthe recess described in the previous patent app ication of Hommel. and Salman Serial No. 401513.

Hitherto many different forms Iof mixing and conveying apparatus having spiral pas. sages therein have 'been designed and the present invention belongs to this type.

An apparatus accordlng to this invention comprises the combination with a rotatable horizontal cylindrical barrelhaving inlets ing outlet at-the other end of spiral channels in the drum and in thetapering end for the purpose of' mixing the sollds and iuids and conveying the flowing mixture through the apparatus. Thus the drum may have at one end a door for4 the introduction of solids and a central inlet pipe for the introduction of liuids and at the other end a tapering outlet terminating in an outlet valve.

i A further feature of the invention consists in the employment in the vessel described of a central inlet pipe perforated to spray the.

liquid and provided with ay brush rotatable in relation to said pipe to clean said' perforations.

Where the apparatus is used for precipitation by means of a vacuum, a central pipe may pass through the outlet valve and serve to connect the apparatus with a vacuum pump.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example one form of apparatus `embodying this invention for use in the process described in the patent application of Hommel and Sulman Serial No. 401513, Figure ljis a central longitudinal section; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,'and Fig. 3 is a part longitudinal section showing a modification in detail. For the sake oi" clearness the spiral channels are not shown.

The apparatus comprises. a cylindrical drum A mounted'to rotate on a horizontal axis. At one end of the drum is a fiat end plate B provided with a gas-tight door (l like a manhole, for the introduction of solids. A' central inlet pipe l) for fluids (under pressure) passes through a suitable bearing E into the drum. The other end of the drum terminates in a conc l at the apex of which is an outlet conduit G furnished with an outlet valve l-l. The drum is rotated by any suitable means in either direction and for this purpose the drum may be carried on rollers J. Within the drum are several (say three) spiral channels K which may convenient-ly bc formed by attaching I bars spirally inside the drum (shown in the drawings as T bars.) These spiral passages are continued in the conical outlet end, and the passages are continued right up to the outlet. Instead of I bars. the spiral channelsl may be formed oi metal troughs or otherwise.

Assuming that the apparatus is to be used for treating pulvernlent material containing zinc oxid with an aqueous solution of sulfurous acid under pressure, the outlet valve ,H is closed gas-tight, the solid matter is introduced into the druiu through the door C which is then closed gas-tight, water and sulfurous acid under pressure or a highly saturated solution of sulfurons acid under pressure are introduced through the central inlet pipe D and the whole vessel is hermetically closed. The drum is then rotated in either direction to an extent suiiicicnt to mix up the materials thoroughly and effect the desired solution. The outlet valve H is then opened and t-he drum is rotated in such a direction as to cause thevfiowing mixture to be conveyed in the channels toward the outlet. r[he channels take up solids and liquids alike and convey them through the tapering outlet F to the outlet valve and thus the Whole contents of the apparatus are discharged.

Where it is desired to introduce the liquid in the form of a spray, the inlet tube D is continued some distance into the drum and is perforatedY as atl)1 or provided with a spraying n'ozzlefso that the liquid can be s rayed through the perforations or nozzle;

onveniently the inlet pipe is a fixture and a spiral or other brush M rests in contact with the pipe at the perforated part, the brush' being attached to the drum so'as to rotate therewith and to prevent the perforations from being clogged.

the action of a vacuum, a pipe L may pass through the center of the outlet valve and may be connected withv a vacuum pump. The same arrangement also may be used, if the apparatus is worked under pressure and a manometer or a safety valve is to be at- 'tached l Assuming that the apparatus is to be used for precipitating zinc monosulte from a solutlon ofv zinc -bisulite, zinc oX-id may be introduced into the drum il desired through the door C which is then hermetically closed. The outlet valve II is also hcrmetically closed andthe cvacuum pipe L is put in comy munication with the Vvacuum pump. rIhe solution of zinc bisulfite is then introduced through the inlet pipe D in the lform of a spray and coming under the action ot the vacuum (and the zinc oxid if present), the zinc monosultite is precipitated therefrom.

When the precipitation is complete, the application of vacuum is discontinued, the outlet valve is opened and the drum is rop tated in such a way as to convey the liquid and solid contents out valve.

It is to be understood that the details of arrangement and construction may be varied Without departing from this invention.

through the outlet What I claim as my invention and desire' to secure by Letters Patent is l. In an apparatus for use in solution and precipitation processes the combination of a` rotatable horizontal cylindrical barrel having inlets for solids and fluids at one end and a tapering outlet at the other endiand spiral channels in the drum and in the tapering end for the purpose oit mixing thesolids and fluids and conveying the tlowing mixture through the apparatus.

Q. In an apparatus for usein solution and precipitation processes the combination of a rotatable horizontal cylindrical barrel a door for thc introduction of solids at one end of the barrel and a central inlet pipe for th'e introduction of fluids, a tapering outlet at Y the other end of the barrel, an outlet valve Where-it is desired to subject the liquid to l at the end of the tapering outlet, and spiral channels arranged v1n the drum and 1n the .tapering outlet for the purpose of`mixing .at one end for thc introduction of solids, a `central liquid inlet pipe perforated to spray the liquid,a tapering outlet at the other end ofv the barrel, an outlet Vvalve at the end of the tapering outlet, and spiral channels arranged in the drum and in the tapering outlet. ,tor the purpose of mixing the solids and tluids and conveying the flowing mixture through the apparatus;

l. In an apparatus for use in solution and precipitation processes the combmation of a rotatable horizontal cylindrical barrel having inlets for solids and fluids at one end and a tapering outlet at the other end, a central pipe passing through the outlet and arranged to connect the apparatus to a vacuum pump, and spiral channels arranged in the drum and in the tapering outlet for the purpose ol mixing the solids and fluids IVOLDEMAR HUMMEL. W itnesses:

Pnncr AW.` Il. vIaIIcGnssoN, F. B. Buss. 

